Six high-impact areas to get you started

Maybe it’s my very Virgo tendencies, but thinking about spring cleaning always makes my heart skip a beat. The excitement that comes with a clean, organized space, combined with open windows and sunlight streaming through them, is second to none. However, the rush and anticipation can be short-lived, especially when you dive into the actual work of cleaning and organizing. Before spring cleaning can begin, spring cleaning needs to be done. But the question of what to order in spring can be overwhelming.

What to order first? Do I need a spring decluttering checklist before I dive into my cleaning? Before you know it, you can throw up your hands and abandon the whole project altogether. That’s exactly why I asked the pros for all their spring tidying tips.

What to Declutter This Spring: 6 High-Impact Areas to Get Started

Below, cleaning and organizing professionals weigh in on which items you should declutter first. Address these gaps before you reach for the mop to get the most out of your investment this spring.

drop zones

First things first: It’s helpful to monitor the spaces where you and your loved ones place items every day. Nick Friedman, co-founder and CEO of College HUNKS hauling trash and movingHe calls these spaces drop zones. “The quickest win in any home is clearing drop zones: entryways, kitchen counters, and coffee tables,” she shares. “These spaces collect mail, bags, random gadgets, and everyday clutter. When these surfaces are cleaned, the entire home immediately feels more organized. It’s a small project with a huge visual impact.”

To tackle clutter efficiently, keep a recycling bag nearby to throw away bits of paper as you go, and a trash bag to dispose of items.

Children’s belongings

If you have children you already know how much they can accumulate. Vanessa García, expert in cleaning and organization and tasker of task rabbitencourages parents to start letting go of children’s belongings before diving into a deep clean. “One of the biggest things I consider a big cleanup task is going through the kids’ belongings: old markers, broken crayons, and old toys that could be donated,” she says. “It’s always a good time to start picking them up and setting them aside, because most of the time they won’t notice.”

García recommends involving your children in the ordination process. “It can be a great learning opportunity for children to do something good with what they have,” García continues.

The refrigerator and the pantry

As they say, the kitchen is the heart of the home. Just as your wardrobe brightens with the arrival of spring, so does your food, especially as the season comes with more fresh fruits and vegetables. But before you can deep clean your kitchen, Cathy Orr, co-founder of The ordered liferecommends cleaning the refrigerator and pantry.

“It’s time to throw out expired items from the pantry, thoroughly clean the refrigerator and freezer shelves, remove food from the freezer that you never ate during the winter, and clean and wipe down the countertops,” he instructs. Once you create more shelf space, you can clean everything, but that initial cleaning is essential.

Wardrobes

Going from winter to spring means that your wardrobe will have to change with the seasons. You can also declutter while you’re at it and reap the rewards of a refreshed space. “Closets are one of the most impactful decluttering projects,” says Friedman. “Rather than overthinking it, I encourage people to take a quick look: If you didn’t use it last season or it no longer fits your lifestyle, it’s time to donate it. Most people are surprised at how much space they gain with just a 20-minute edit.”

Hidden disorder

It can be easy to get rid of clutter behind closed doors. Out of sight, out of mind, right? But as you prepare your home for spring cleaning, you’ll want to leave room for items that in fact you want to store. “Eliminate hidden areas of clutter, such as garages, junk drawers, and storage closets where clutter accumulates,” Friedman recommends. “These spaces may be out of sight, but they often create the most stress because they make it difficult to find what you really need. Once these areas are reduced, it becomes much easier to keep the rest of the house organized.”

Personally, I love tackling junk drawers – they’re small spaces that only take a few minutes to organize, at most. You can’t clean the drawers until they’re clean anyway!

Duplicates

As you search for spring cleaning supplies, keep an eye out for duplicates. “One of the most common things we see when helping customers order is an overabundance of duplicates,” shares Friedman. She mentions that customers often have duplicates of cleaning supplies, as well as extra kitchen tools or boxes of labeled items. just in case. He encourages you to discard or donate these items. “Keeping excess often turns into clutter. Simplifying these categories can free up a surprising amount of space,” she explains.

As you begin the decluttering process, Friedman recommends taking advantage of the excitement that comes with starting something new. “My biggest advice is to focus on momentum over perfection,” he shares. “Start with the areas that will immediately make your home feel better. When you declutter the high-impact areas first, spring cleaning stops feeling like a big project and starts feeling like a renovation.”